Bending, contorting (8)
I believe the answer is:
twisting
This clue is a double definition.
'bending' is the first definition.
('twist' can be a synonym of 'bend')
'contorting' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
(Other definitions for twisting that I've seen before include "Cheating; distorting" , "Winding (together); distorting" , "Crooked" , "Bending, contorting" , "Distorting, turning" .)